Teen Killed in Clay County Auto Accident

A teenager from Middleburg, just southwest of Jacksonville, was killed in a car accident when the vehicle he was riding in reportedly hit a pickup truck at an intersection.

According to information from the Florida Highway Patrol, a 20-year-old man was driving a 2001 Ford Escape in the early hours of August 30 on Normandy Boulevard. At one point, he ran a red light, which led to him crashing directly into a 2007 Chevy Z-71 pickup truck traveling through the intersection.

The deceased individual was a 17-year-old boy who had just started his senior year at Middleburg High School. Three other people, including the drivers of both vehicles and a passenger from the pickup truck, were sent to UF Health to be treated for serious injuries. Their conditions were not immediately available. Investigators say the 17-year-old boy was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, which could have contributed to the severity of the fatal injuries he suffered.

Car accidents and the duty of care

All drivers have a duty of care to anyone they share the road with to operate their vehicles safely and obey all traffic rules and regulations. By running through a red light, the 20-year-old likely breached that duty of care, and thus might be considered at fault for the accident. However, the fact that the teen boy was not wearing a seatbelt could potentially reduce the liability of the Escape’s driver.

To learn more about how to proceed with a personal injury claim after a serious car accident, consult a knowledgeable Jacksonville lawyer right away.

Attorney Mark Link contributed to this blog post.